The Site Study is an inquiry-based examination of these historically significant locations and is integrated with topic content as a way for students to acquire History knowledge, skills, values and attitudes from experience in the field. The study enables students to understand their historical environment, actively participate in historical inquiry, interpret the past and recognise how human occupation and use of the sites has changed over time. The study will enhance understanding of the historical context in which changes have occurred and help to create and nurture a lifelong interest in history.

The study has three main components:

Introductory activities and resources to introduce the students to the site study

A whole day enquiry based study in The Rocks and surrounding areas

Follow up activities to reinforce and enhance historical knowledge and skills

During the site study, students will:

Visit Customs House to view an introductory presentation about the sites and locate the study sites on a model of the city.

Use ipads to complete an historical enquiry and create a digital field journal about significant people and locations relevant to the topic

Visit the Rocks Discovery Museum to learn about local indigenous people, colonisation and contact history

Visit, (and view artefacts), from archaeological sites in Millers Point and Dawes Point

Visit Walsh Bay to learn about the growth and development of shipping transportation, and to investigate the life of convicts and free settlers and their impact on the development of the Australian Nation.

Visit Barangaroo Reserve to describe and assess the life of one Aboriginal in contact with British colonisers

Summary of Learning Sites, Activities and Student Outcomes

Learning Site

Activity

Student Outcomes

Students will be able to:

Fieldwork in Action

In classroom

1. Pre-visit Research

Students undertake background research on The Rocks from secondary sources to prepare for tjhe site study investigation and use a variety of sources to investigate and report on the changing way of life of a convict, emancipists or free settler.

Inquiry-based examination of an historically significant locations and people.

Describe key aspects of contact between indigenous people and colonisers

Describe and assess the life of one Aboriginal individual in contact with the British colonisers

Use a variety of sources to investigate and report on the changing way of life of a convict, emancipists or free settler.

Millers Point Community Centre

2. Introduction to The Rocks

Students listen to an introductory talk about the site study and become familiar with the Book Creator App on ipads provided

Become familiar with the Site Study areas

The Rocks / Millers Point

3. History Site Study Trail

Students use iPads to create a digital field journal of important historical people, places and events throughout the study sites.

Identify significant people, places and events related to Aboriginal Peoples, Colonisation and Contact and the movement of peoples.These include Francis Greenway, John Cadman, Robert Campbell, William Dawes, Patyegarang and Hugh Noble.

Rocks Discovery Museum

4. Rocks Discovery Museum

Students view historical artefacts from selected time periods to learn about the history of The Rocks over time from traditional Gadigal cultural use, colonial settlement, port activities and modern history.

Undertake an inquiry-based examination of an historically significant location and artefacts.

Interpret the past and recognise how human occupation and use of the site has changed over time

Dawes Point

5. Dawes Point

Students visit Dawes Point to learn about Lieutenant Williams Dawes and Patyegarang.

Undertake an inquiry-based examination of an historically significant location.

Interpret the past and recognise how human occupation and use of the site has changed over time.

Parbury Ruins

6. Parbury Ruins

Students visit the Parbury archaeological ruins to view artefacts and learn about the convict Hugh Noble.

Undertake an inquiry-based examination of an historically significant location.

Interpret the past and recognise how human occupation and use of the site has changed over time.

In Classroom

9. Follow-up post site study report

Students complete a site study report on one of the historical sites visited.

Use a variety of sources to investigate and report on the changing way of life of a convict, emancipists or free settler.